Paola Rainieri, Francesca Raineri, Mary Beth Shimmon and Katie Traina
Dede Wilsey, President of Fine Arts Museums, San Francisco, met Oscar de la Renta in 1963, when he was the head designer for Elizabeth Arden in New York. A lifelong friendship and client relationship was born. In 1995, she asked her friend to present his collection at the annual League to Save Lake Tahoe fashion show, a popular summer event and a post left vacant by Bill Blass. Oscar reluctantly agreed, and he participated in the show every year until he passed in 2014. On his final visit to Lake Tahoe in 2014, Dede asked Oscar if he would allow the de Young Museum to feature his work in a retrospective. Ever careful of ostentatious behavior, the designer was already, at the time, featured in a retrospective at the George W. Bush Library in Dallas, and another at Savannah College of Art and Design, was in the works. However, Dede’s wishes prevailed and he finally agreed. Oscar de la Renta: The Retrospective opened with a gala dinner for some 355 supporters on March 9, 2016. “I’ve never seen so many Oscars in one room,” said Dede.
Scenes from Oscar de la Renta: The Gala Dinner at the de Young:
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MARCH 09: Pasha and Laney Thornton attend the “Oscar de la Renta: The Retrospective” Benefit Gala at the de Young on March 9, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Mary Beth Shimmon in Oscar de la Renta (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Lynn Wyatt, Annette de la Renta and Dede Wilsey (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Jim Marver and Stephanie Marver (in Giambattista Valli Couture) (Photo by Drew Altizer)
Steve Walske and Jennifer Walske (in Oscar de la Renta) (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Abi Katz, Dan Katz (Photo by Drew Altizer)
Jay Hickingbotham and Jessica Hickingbotham (in Oscar de la Renta) (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
John Amster and Colleen Amster (Photo by Drew Altizer)
Lonna Wais in Oscar de la Renta (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Katie Traina (in Oscar de la Renta) (Photo by Drew Altizer)
Yurie Pascarella (in Oscar de la Renta) and Carl Pascarella (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Sunny Ommanney in Oscar de la Renta (Photo by Drew Altizer)
Douglas Wall and Mariana Gantus Wall (in Oscar de la Renta) (Photo by Drew Altizer)
Vanessa Getty in Oscar de la Renta (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
OJ Shansby (in Oscar de la Renta) and Gary Shansby (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Joy Venturini Bianchi in Oscar de la Renta (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Frederick Aranda and Christine Suppes (in Oscar de la Renta) (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)
Adrienne Mally in Oscar de la Renta (Photo by Drew Altizer)
Paola Rainieri and Francesca Rainieri, both in Oscar de la Renta (Photo by Drew Altizer)
